Variable Number of Tandem Repeat Profiles and Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of Staphylococcus Haemolyticus Strains Isolated From Blood Cultures in Children Publisher Pubmed



Hosseinkhani F¹ ; Jabalameli F¹ ; Nodeh Farahani N² ; Taherikalani M³ ; Van Leeuwen WB⁴ ; Emaneini M¹
Source: Infection# Genetics and Evolution Published:2016

Abstract

Staphylococcus haemolyticus is a healthcare-associated pathogen and can cause a variety of lifethreatening infections. Additionally, multi-drug resistance (MDR), in particular methicillin-resistant S. haemolyticus (MRSH) isolates, have emerged. Dissemination of such strains can be of great concern in the hospital environment. A total number of 20 S. haemolyticus isolates from blood cultures obtained from children were included in this study. A high prevalence of MDR-MRSH isolates with high MIC values to vancomycin was found and 35% of the isolates were intermediate resistant to vancomycin. Multilocus variable number of tandem repeats analysis (MLVF) revealed 5 MLVF types among 20 isolates of S. haemolyticus. Twelve isolates shared the same MLVF type and were isolated from different wards in a pediatric hospital in Iran. This is a serious alarm for infection control; i.e. in the absence of adequate infection diagnostics and infection control guidelines, these resistant strains can spread to other sectors of a hospital and possibly among the community. © 2015 Elsevier B.V.